I worked at a raptor rehab center for a while, and the birds that lived there sometimes lost feathers. These were always collected and kept in the office. I REALLY wanted some of those beautiful feathers, but it would be illegal for me to have one because all those birds are protected and you're not allowed to have any part of them. It makes sense. If you found someone with a bunch of hawk feathers, there's really no way to tell if they found those laying on the ground somewhere, or actually hurt or killed a hawk to get them.

If you do want feathers though, you can get some from domesticated birds like chickens or turkeys. I know they're not as interesting as hawk or eagle feathers, but some of them can be pretty too. I have a friend who has some feather from a goose, I think. She got it from someone she knows who owns the bird who lost them. They're pretty, and totally legal.

I have a beautiful feather that my husband brought home for me from his work. I havealso an amethyst, rose quartz, and crystal quartz on my altar also. I also have a pentaclewhich is made of wood, that a friend got me for my birthday many years ago. I find that thesenatural objects really help me focus and tune into nature. Especially since I live in an apt and can't have my altar outside. Hopefully one day I will have my own backyard and can have my altar out there.ApplelunaNix

My favorite natural gift came to me at the beach one day.I was walking a long the water thinking "I would like a gift from the sea."I few seconda later a muscle shell caught my eye.I picked it up and washed it off and on the inside was a small imperfect pearl.It is semi-round and fixed to the inside of the shell.Definately my favorite.

My Altar is a very personal space. I have a bottle of Florida beach sand that I collected the last time I saw my grandma. I have some seashells. I have a lot of rocks and homemade candles. I had a small bowl full of dirt on my Altar, but I decided to return it to the Earth after my dear little feline friend (a sweet, but mischievous cat) tracked it all over my room. I usually keep natural things on my Altar, along with other items that are personal to me.

Some of my things on my alter, a round white birch bark pentegram that my Native American friend made for me. I put my moonstone, sunstone & elemental stones around it. A large conch shell that my mother gave to me from the Bahamas, my twisted bittersweet wand, abalone shell with white sage & tobacco, stones, copper, crystals, sea salt in a handcarved wooden chalice from Poland. It really depends on what I am doing. I'm a moonchild, Cancer the crab, so I am drawn to water. I may have seaweed, stones or certain herbs on my alter. The main reason I have the things that I choose to put on my alter is that it reminds me of my memories, it helps me in my magick. I have a boxturtle shell that I found on a ponds' sand dune, it helps me connect with Mother Earth. Alot of the time my alter is a rock by a Lake, I find things as I go, the Goddess gives them to me, pine needles & oakmoss for incense, some fresh water mussel shells, stones. I thank Nature for the gifts I get. I always give something back with acknowledgement & Thanks. A poem that I live by, from Healing Planet Earth: From the depths of my being I thank the earth, wind & water. I thank the sun, moon & stars. I thank the grains in the fields & the trees in the forest. Because of them I am here. I am one with the earth. I am one with nature. I am one with all plant & animal species. Through my daily thoughts & actions I vow to preserve & keep them for future generations. Blessed Be ) 0 (

I try to keep quite a few natural items on my altar. I place fresh flowers on it whenever I find some nice ones. Right now I have some purple flowers of some kind. I also have 2 nice shells that I found at the beach one day, plus a couple pine cones. I always keep some earth in a little dish, and some water. The altar really is very simple, but it means a lot to me. :)

I have to say that about half of my 'alter' is natural. From the Pink Quartz of Healing to the various sticks that I have from, picking them up from the ground. At the same time I have a very hoaky looking katana, and a statue of a knight for protection. So its half and half and gone with the wind...

i have only recently set up a permanent altar due to opposition from my other half. he is finally "getting it" that my path is true and works for me. i have covered the top of a chest of drawers with a beautiful piece of silver organza and have on there crystals in colours to represent the four quarters (smoky quartz, clear quartz, carnelian and sodalite) , silver and gold candles to represent the Goddess and God, a pebble engraved with a pentacle, leaves, shells and various items that change from week to week - artwork/pics of faeries, landscapes & ascended masters, other crystals, photo's of people who require healing, etc. it is a joy for me to look at my altar every morning and connect with my path in a tangible way. bright blessings to all from a sister in Australia.

My alter changes alot due to changes in season and Sabbat. Right now My alter has very little that is natural on it (except for sea salt, water, and a feather) . Usually I have crystals, stones, twigs, willow wreaths, and leaves on my alter. I let the object choose me, I dont go looking for tools. for example, my wand is pretty untraditional. It was made by a native woman, and it is a feather with the lower part wrapped in leather. Ther is a long quartz crystal attached to the bottom as well. It is decorated with colourful beads. I love it!

Although I do not have an altar set up in my home, I consider mother earth to be my alter. Whenever I go outside to enjoy her splendor, I listen, give thanks, leave a gift, etc. I am growing worried for my altar however. With Bush in office, we may not get to enjoy what we have due to the proposed Forest Management Initiatives. Visit www.sierraclub.org to find out what is going on. It is important for us pagans to stick up for our mother earth. Just listen to her, she is crying for what is being done. I feel the pain inside me everyday.

When the day comes for me to set up that alter at home, I will have many natural objects on it.

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